San Juan (Second Edition)

In the game of San Juan (Second Edition), each player’s turn is broken down into a series of actions. Understanding these actions is key to developing a successful strategy and maximizing your potential in the game. Here is a detailed explanation of what happens during a player’s turn:

1. Choose a Role: At the start of each round, the player selects one of the available role cards. This selection will determine the specific actions that they can take during their turn. These roles include the Councillor, Producer, Trader, Builder, and Prospector.

• Councillor: The player draws five cards from the deck and keeps one. The rest are placed on the discard pile.
• Producer: The player can produce goods in one of their production buildings. If they are the one who chose this role, they can produce in two buildings instead.
• Trader: The player can sell one good for the corresponding number of cards. If they are the one who chose this role, they get one extra card when selling a good.
• Builder: The player can build a building by paying its cost in cards from their hand. If they are the one who chose this role, they get a one-card discount.
• Prospector: The player simply draws a card. If they are the one who chose this role, they draw an additional card.

2. Perform Role Action: After selecting a role, the player then performs the action associated with that role. The other players also get to perform the action, but without the privilege of the player who selected the role.

3. Additional Actions: In addition to the role action, players can also perform other actions during their turn, depending on the buildings they have in their city. For instance, some buildings allow players to draw additional cards, produce extra goods, or gain discounts on building costs.

4. End of Turn: Once all players have performed their actions, the role cards are returned and the next player chooses a role. The round continues until all players have had a turn.

5. Strategic Choices: There are several strategic choices players can make during their turn. For instance, they can choose a role that benefits their current strategy, or one that disrupts the strategies of their opponents. They can also choose to focus on building a large city, producing and selling goods, or a mix of both. Understanding the role cards and the benefits of each building is key to mastering the game.

The game ends when a player has built their twelfth building. Points are then calculated based on the buildings in each player’s city and the player with the most points wins the game.

The board game ‘San Juan (Second Edition)’ is a card game based on the renowned ‘Puerto Rico’. While the basic rules are simple, there are several special rules and exceptions to keep in mind for an engaging gaming experience. The following are some of the more intricate aspects of the game:

Role Selection:

San Juan utilizes a unique role selection mechanic. At the beginning of each round, players take turns choosing a role from the pool. However, once a role is taken, no other player can select it for that round. Moreover, the player who selects a role also gets a special privilege that others do not.

Building Cards:

Players can construct buildings by paying the cost indicated on the card. However, they can only build one building per round unless they have the ‘Smithy’ card. This card allows players to construct an additional building during the Builder phase.

The Chapel Card:

The ‘Chapel’ card allows a player to place a card from their hand face-down under the Chapel during the Producer phase. These cards are kept secret from other players and are revealed only at the end of the game. Each card under the Chapel is worth 1 victory point.

Trading Goods:

Players can trade goods during the Trader phase. However, goods cannot be traded if the Trading House is full, even if the player has the ‘Market Stand’ or ‘Market Hall’ card. These cards only allow the player to trade an additional good, not exceed the Trading House’s capacity.

• End of The Game: The game ends when a player constructs their 12th building, not including the Indigo plant. The round is completed so that each player gets an equal number of turns, and then scores are calculated.
• Victory Points: Victory points are calculated based on the buildings each player has constructed, any bonus points from special buildings, and any points from cards under the Chapel. The player with the most victory points wins the game.

1. Clarifications:

   While the ‘San Juan (Second Edition)’ rules are generally straightforward, there are a few clarifications that might be helpful.

2. Library: The ‘Library’ card allows the player to keep both privilege benefits when they are Governor. This means they can take both the extra card and the extra good, or build two buildings, etc., depending on the role they selected.
3. Victory Column: The ‘Victory Column’ card grants the player 4 victory points at the end of the game. However, it does not count as a monument for the purpose of the ‘Guild Hall’ card.
4. Carpenter: The ‘Carpenter’ card allows the player to build a building for one card less during the Builder phase. However, this does not apply when constructing a building as a result of the ‘Smithy’ card.

Advanced Strategies

1. Role Selection Strategy: Always be mindful of your role selection. The key to winning in San Juan is by smartly choosing your roles. The player who is best able to leverage his/her roles has a distinct advantage. For example, selecting the ‘Builder’ role when you have the resources to construct multiple buildings can be a game-changing strategy.

2. Diversification: Don’t just focus on one type of building or production. Diversification is key in San Juan. Having a mix of production and violet buildings ensures a balanced strategy that can adapt to changing circumstances.

Beginner Tips

1. Understand the Cards: Spend time getting to know the cards and their benefits. The more familiar you are with the cards, the better you’ll be able to strategize and plan your moves.

2. Prioritize Production Buildings: In the early stages of the game, focus on building your production buildings. They are the foundation of your city and will provide you with the necessary resources to build other types of buildings later in the game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Neglecting Production: A common mistake is to focus too much on violet buildings and neglect production. Remember, without enough resources, you can’t build the buildings you need to score points.

2. Ignoring Role Benefits: Another common mistake is ignoring the benefits of the roles. Each role has unique benefits that can give you an advantage in the game. Utilize them to your advantage.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

1. Plan Ahead: Always be thinking a few turns ahead. Plan what buildings you want to build and what roles you want to choose. This will help you optimize your gameplay and make efficient moves.
2. Adapt to Your Opponents: Pay attention to what your opponents are doing and adapt your strategy accordingly. If an opponent is focusing on production buildings, you may want to focus on trading or construction.
3. Use Your Chapel Wisely: The Chapel can be a powerful tool if used correctly. It allows you to store cards under it for extra points at the end of the game. Ensure you use it to its full potential.